PROMPT: "There's something you need to know."

- ADDT NOTES: post s6 AU, takes place in the future.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or the characters, I make no money from this.

"You should've told her years ago, you idiot," Stefan said, looking both exasperated and sympathetic as he shakes his head. "You couldn't have picked a worse time, but it's now or never."

Damon watches as the last of the chairs are finally set up, perfect rows of white facing the beautifully decorated altar. Lights have been strung up around the area, a violin quartet's setting up behind the altar and bright green trees barely move, unbothered by the spring breeze. It's perfect weather, Bonnie's only getting the best for her wedding day. But it just adds more pressure onto Damon, the bright gaze of the sun only weighing him down, pricking at his eyes.

Damon turns back around, heading back up to the red mansion slowly, adjusting his tie slightly. Caroline runs past him, looking outraged, probably at a chair that's off by one angle, and she's gripping her clipboard so tightly he's surprised it hasn't snapped. A few catering staff-members shuffle past him, lugging boxes around and getting ready for the reception afterwards. He can hear a few cars in the distance, probably guests, getting closer to the venue and his throat tightens, dread building.

He's gonna tell her.

He finally makes it inside the house; he can hear Scott and his groomsmen in the large den down one of the hallways, joking around and toasting to Scott's big day. Damon's never been close with the guy, the two of them have never really spent any time together by themselves but Scott's nice and he makes Bonnie happy. Maybe Damon could let Bonnie and Scott have their big day, let them get married and be happy for the rest of their lives, that's what a good man would do.

But Damon is not a good man.

He finally makes it upstairs, he can hear Bonnie's bridesmaids chatting excitedly, the sound of makeup products being passed around but no Bonnie in the room. He tunes into another sound, moving down the hallway to the right where Bonnie's humming faintly in the room at the end. The sound makes him smile despite the storm brewing inside him, and he makes it to the end of the hallway, knocking on the door and peeks inside.

"Can I come in?" he asks gently.

"Of course," Bonnie replies, getting up from her seat; he steps into the room, finally getting to see Bonnie in her wedding dress and for a moment, no other thought exists except for her.

Even at thirty-one years old, she still looks just as beautiful as ever. Her hair is in soft beachy waves in a half-up half-down hairdo, a veil sits on her head with silver jewelry around her neck, making her look practically angelic. Her wedding dress is simple, a classic style with thin white straps and intricate flowers stitched onto her dress.

"So?" she asks, holding out her hands, twirling around with an excited grin. "How do I look?"

"I…" Damon somehow manages to reply, still dumbfounded, "You look great."

"You Salvatore men are always so eloquent," Bonnie smiles, "Did Caroline send you up here? Any wedding mishaps I should know about?"

"No, everything's fine, you know Caroline's handling whatever problem...everything looks good for the day."

The radiant joy on Bonnie's face somehow stings and lifts him up. But he's gonna tell her. This is a beautiful vision, one that Damon will probably treasure forever but not like this, not when she's with another man. He's gonna tell her.

"There's something you need to know-"

"I have something to ask you-" they both say at the same time, and abruptly stop.

"Uh...you go first," Damon offers quietly.

"Okay...well, I've been meaning to ask you this for a while, but I was so busy with planning that the days just kinda got away from me, but I figure it's now or never. So...do you think you could walk me down the aisle? I just...I don't think anyone but you deserves that honour. It would make me so happy, Damon, if you would. I want you to be a part of this day."

He's not gonna tell her. He won't ruin the hopeful and content look on her face, the way she glows and how it seems to make everything in the room more vibrant. No, he's not gonna ruin her day, fracture the friendship they've built and possibly turn her world upside down. Damon isn't a good man, it's true, but when it comes to Bonnie, there's a shred of hope left for him. Hope that one day, he can change back from a monster into a man.

She will never know how much he loves her, and that's okay. At the end of the day, Damon only wants her to know happiness, even if it's not with him.

"Of course, Bonnie. I'd love to walk you down the aisle," he replies, trying to sound pleased rather than crestfallen.

Her hopeful expression turns into a look of elation, she's beaming as she gives him a gentle hug, careful not to wrinkle her dress. Damon wraps his arms around her, resting his chin on her head like usual, savouring their embrace and dreading the moment she will let go.

"Thank you," she mutters happily.

For you, Bonnie, Damon thinks, a bittersweet tinge entering his heart, anything for you.

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